2010 VA Budget Updates

VA BUDGET 2010 Update 04: On 10 JUL the House passed a $133.7 billion spending bill that boosts funding for veterans benefits in fiscal 2010, and includes some advance funding for fiscal 2011. The measure, which passed 415-3, also contains funding for military construction projects and other activities of the Veterans Affairs Department. "With passage of this fiscal year 2010 bill, the Congress will have increased veterans health care and benefits funding by 58% in the past two and a half years," said Chet Edwards (D-TX), the chairman of the Military Construction-Veterans' Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. "This is an unprecedented increase in Congress' commitment to veterans, and in my book, our veterans have earned every dime of this funding." Zach Wamp (R-TN), the ranking Republican on the panel, echoed strong support for the legislation, but added that he continues "to be concerned about the ability of the [department] to absorb large funding increases provided in this bill." Wamp also asked Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey (D-WI), and Edwards to insist on holding a conference committee with the Senate to resolve differences between the two bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee finished work on a $133.9 billion companion bill 7 JUL.

The House bill (H.R.3082) would appropriate about $77.9 billion in discretionary spending, roughly 7% more than fiscal 2009 (PL 110-329) levels and $239 million more than the White House requested. Before passing the bill, the House adopted by voice vote six amendments, including provisions that would:

Redirect $3.5 million to the Office of National Veterans' Sports Programs and Special Events from the department's medical support and compliance account, offered by Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA);

Require the department to provide Congress with a report on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at veterans' medical facilities, by Pete Sessions (R-TX);

Shift $1 million to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for free legal services and reduce the account for the Office of Inspector General by the same amount, by Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV);

The spending measure would provide roughly $108.9 billion for the department, about 14% above the amount enacted for fiscal 2009, and equal to President Obama's request. Of that, $53 million would be discretionary spending, roughly 8% more than in fiscal 2009 and $2.9 billion more than the administration's request. The spending measure would also set aside $48.2 billion for three veterans’ medical accounts in fiscal 2011, about 8% more than it would appropriate for fiscal 2010. The idea is to give decision makers foreknowledge about future funding levels so plans can be made with greater confidence. Under the bill, the Defense Department would get $24.6 billion for accounts related to military construction projects, family housing, base realignment and closures. That represents about a 12% decrease. Related agencies - such as the American Battle Monuments Commission - would get $282.5 million, roughly 36% greater than in fiscal 2009. The White House has expressed support for the House-passed version of the bill, but took issue with incremental funding for several military projects, including a new data center for the National Security Agency.

[Source: CQ Today Online News Matthew M. Johnson article 10 Jul 09 ++]

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VA BUDGET 2010 Update 03: On 16 JUN 09 Rep. Chet Edwards, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, announced final numbers for the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act and the news is very good for veterans. The full Appropriations Committee approved the bill on 23 JUN. In a historic first, the appropriations act for FY 2010 also includes $48.2 billion in advance appropriations for fiscal year FY 2011 for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care. This is an eight percent increase over the proposed FY 2010 level, and will provide reliable and timely funding to support the delivery of medical care. Advance appropriations have been Disabled American Veterans highest legislative priority this year and its inclusion in this year's funding bill is a major victory for all veterans. Furthermore, to make this victory permanent, both the House and Senate are moving towards passage of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R.1016/S.423), legislation that would authorize advance appropriations for VA medical care programs in statute and create new budget reporting requirements to aid Congress in setting sufficient funding levels for veterans health care.

On 23 JUN, the House voted 409 to 1 to pass H.R.1016. This measure has now been sent to the Senate for consideration. Veterans should continue to write your elected officials on both of these important bills. The appropriations bill also included $53 billion in discretionary funding for VA for FY 2010, which is a record level of funding. This total is slightly more than the President's request and $5.4 billion more than FY 2009 non-emergency appropriations. This discretionary number includes:

$45.1 billion for the Veterans Health Administration, $4.4 billion above FY 2009
$580 million for medical and prosthetic research
$2.1 billion for general operating expenses, $287 million above FY 2009, which includes an additional 1,200 additional claims processors.
$250 million for the National Cemetery Administration, $20 million above FY 2009
$19.2 million for the Office of Inspector General
$3.3 billion for Information Technology; and
$1.9 billion for VA construction, $256 million above FY 2009.

On 6 JUL the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies marked up their bill at similar levels as the House for FY 2010 and FY 2011. On 7 JUL, Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Max Baucus (D-MT) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which includes nationwide initiatives such as hiring 1,200 new staff to evaluate veterans' claims; maintaining the veterans mileage reimbursement rate of 41.5 cents per mile; $440 million to continue and expand the VA's Rural Health Care Initiative started last year; and $500 million to expand the VA's homelessness programs. Tester also included language in the bill directing the National Cemetery Administration to study the possibility of establishing a National Veterans Cemetery in the upper Midwest." On 7 JUL the full Committee approved these levels and sent the bill to the full Senate for approval. Both the House and Senate Committees provide $48.2 billion in advance appropriations for FY 2011. [Source: Capitol Advantage article 8 Jul 09 ++]